Tony Romo opens up about how he's improved as announcer

CBS lead in-game NFL analyst Tony Romo spoke openly in September about the criticisms routinely directed his way regarding his game calls. 

During the latest edition of the "Sports Illustrated Media Podcast," host Jimmy Traina asked Romo how the retired quarterback has improved in the booth working alongside living legend Jim Nantz.

"Just making it cleaner," Romo responded. "I think we're just clicking on all cylinders right now. This year has been real tight and I think that it's been very fun to go out there. We have such a good time doing it. I feel like I'm going into a game being able to show the fans greater detail than they've heard and provide that insight about their team. Just some of the nuance." 

Romo was widely viewed as the NFL's top in-game analyst when he signed a 10-year contract with CBS in 2020 that reportedly was worth up to $180M. Numerous media members and fans felt Romo regressed after he put pen to paper on that deal, and it was reported in February 2023 that CBS management "tried an intervention" the previous offseason so Romo would "be better prepared" on gamedays.

More recently, Romo went viral and generated negative headlines when he excitedly described the Kansas City Chiefs' Super-Bowl-winning touchdown instead of letting the moment breathe this past February. 

"You’re always trying to be the best version of yourself, and us being the best team ever," Romo said regarding any changes he's made as an announcer coming off Super Bowl LVIII. "I think we work really well together, and our brains are so fast. And for me, you want what’s best for the fans. You want what’s best for everyone, and it’s just about making it an enjoyable experience. So if the fans say they want this, I want to give it to them. So literally, that’s all we’re trying to do, and I think that’s showing." 

Whether Romo has been better in the booth this season compared to last year may not matter much. Tom Brady spent much of the past two months under the microscope during his first campaign working as Fox's lead in-game analyst via a 10-year contract reportedly worth $375M. Brady has understandably sounded like a work in progress throughout the season, and some insist he won't serve as both an announcer and a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders for nine more years. 

Perhaps Romo will try to convince Brady to stick with Fox for at least a few more seasons to attract the type of weekly post-Sunday breakdowns once saved for the former Dallas signal-caller.